Cal Poly Slo vs UCSB vs Extra year in community college
Hello,
I just got rejected by UCB, waitlisted by UCI, and currently waiting on USC and UVA. I've been on and off from community college since 2019 and steadily full-time since 2022. I am getting older and so are my parents so I was wondering if it's worth it to spend another year in community college for an extra chance at Berkeley and Ivies.
My GPA is 3.87 after this semester and if I ace an extra year's worth of classes it will be in the 3.9s. I had a 3.95 but fucked up my calc 1 after a major life event (got a c). I'm now acing calc 2 and thinking of retaking calc 1 at a different school. Since I am a refugee, I don't have much of a network but I am constantly trying to expand it hence my desire to go to a target (besides the obvious OCR, Alum %, etc.). Got a lot of ECs and Work experience since I'm in my mid-20s.
Brutally honest advice is appreciated!
Go with UCSB if you don't get USC or UVA. I go to one of UCI/UCSD and IB is 100% doable from these schools, esp on the west coast. If you're transferring and IB is your goal you might need to delay graduation to recruit as a sophomore
Absolutely agree. I’m biased as a UCSB grad but will say it’s even more doable now than when I was recruiting. If you go in knowing you want IB it’s very doable. Check the finance club’s website for recent placement. It’s not UCLA or Berkeley but you can still get a solid outcome with dedicated networking and prep. And it goes without saying, very high quality of student life. Feel free to pm.
Know a couple people from UCSB at Bain and at good banks as well. Doable.
Are you at SBCC?
I went the community college transfer route and I think you’re better off getting into school and then delaying graduation by a semester so you have more of a chance at networking and recruiting. The problem with transferring in as a junior is that recruiting is so ridiculously advanced now that you won’t have any chance to leverage your new school connections.
I’m at UCSB and just finished recruiting. Definitely doable if you are part of the right clubs and network. Above comments are also right, we’re no Berkeley/UCLA/USC but placements are absolutely possible.
Honestly you should try to go to a target if possible. Sure you could break in after grinding hard but down the line a target school brand will pay great dividends.
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